Promises three-fold improvement in graphics for gamers and the power to tackle 4K ultra HD video

Intel has officially launched its 7th Generation Intel core CPU (Kaby Lake) that will power the machines working with 4K ultra high definition video and virtual reality.

Intel had launched its 6th generation Skylake chips earlier this year, but the new 7th generation is the latest CPU for 2 in 1 PCs and laptops that promises even more performance and the inclusion of a new media engine.

Immersive Internet

Intel said the new family of processors “opens up a new world of premium 4K UHD content” thanks to the media engine.

“The result is new PCs that have incredible performance and responsiveness, richer visuals with better integrated graphics, more refined and expanded user experiences, longer battery life, and the ability to take full advantage of the immersive internet,” said Intel.

Intel is really backing the “immersive internet” concept with the latest CPUs, which are incredibly small.

“The way we interact and connect with each other has evolved,” blogged Navin Shenoy, corporate VP and general manager for the Client Computing Group at Intel. “It’s richer and more immersive, as video has become an increasingly important medium we use to enhance our conversations. The emergence of 4K Ultra High-Definition, 360-degree video, and virtual reality has dramatically widened and deepened our vantage points.”

But what exactly will Intel’s latest processors deliver?

Well firstly it is a given that they will be faster, thanks to Intel engineers squeezing its 14nm process technology to come up with what it calls 14nm+. This, claims Intel, gives the new chips up to 12 percent faster productivity performance and up to 19 percent faster web performance over its previous generation of chips.

Secondly the power to handle 4K UHD content is another selling point for the new chips, with the new media engine allowing for the creation, editing and sharing of 4K UHD and 360-degree clips up to 15 times faster than on a 5-year-old PC.

Thirdly, Intel also says that any new computers powered by 7th Gen Intel Core will have access to premium 4K UHD content streaming from studios like Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and providers like Fandango.

And fourthly Intel is looking to the gaming community, and promises that they will “see a threefold improvement in graphics compared to a 5-year-old PC.” This, claims Intel, will allow gamers to play a graphics taxing game like Overwatch on a thin, light laptop. It also includes Thunderbolt 3 support, so gamers can use a single cord to plug in an external graphics dock and 4K UHD monitors for top-line gaming performance.

Just compare what is available now to a 5-year-old PC, and it’s obvious how far we’ve come,” said Shenoy. “Some of the new 7th Gen Intel Core PCs are thinner than a phone, with the full performance expected from a PC!”

“We are incredibly excited about the strong partnership with our OEM customers and expect more than 100 different 2 in 1s and laptops powered by 7th Gen Intel Core to be available starting in September through this holiday season,” he said. “To say we are excited about our new 7th Gen Intel Core family is an understatement.”

PC Slump

Intel of course will be hoping that the new processors will kick start the moribund PC market and encourage users to go out and purchase new PCs and laptops.

But it may be disapointed. Analyst house IDC for example warned last month PC shipments would continue to fall, as political uncertainty, currency weakness and depressed commodity prices all take their toll

Depressingly for Intel, IDC predicted that worldwide PC shipments will decline by 7.3 percent year-over-year in 2016.This is 2 percent below previous predictions and IDC has blamed this on the fact that “conditions have been weaker than expected.”